Fur-hat-blocking machine



Sept. 11, 1928. 1,683,790

R. G. MULLER FUR HAT BLOCKING MACHINE Filed Nov. 17, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

Raid v2 41221161;

B Y 426470 %E5 Sept. 11, 1928. 1,683,790

R. G. MULLER FUR HAT BLOCKING MACHINE Filed Nov. 17, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 w- A RH";

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Patented Sept. 11, 1928 UNITED STATES PATENTQo-FFIcE,

BUDOLPI'IG. MULLER, OF IBVINGTON, NEW JERSEY.

rUanAT-BIiocKI-No ACHINE,

Application filed liovembersll, 1927. Serial No. 233,825.

:This invention relates to improvements in fur. or felt hat blocking machines and I the invention relates, more particularly, to a novel arrangement and construction of means for ,actuating'the block to predetermine the head-size and height of the crown of the hat undergoing blocking operations. 7

In hat blocking machines there is usually provided a brim clamping means and an ad justable expansible hat-block, and the mechanismfor actuating the latter comprises means to elevate the hat-block to the desired degree to determine the height of crown to be produced and additional means to expandthe hat-block to the degree necessary to determinethehead-size of the hat. The general practice in hat-block'machine design has been to provideindependently manipulatable' lever devices to respectively operate the hat-block elevating mechanism and the hat-block ex-- pandingmechanismh Such independent levers requiredthe operator to make two dis-: tinct separate motions oro erations in order to elevate and expand the lat-block, and by reason of thedivergence ot' the'respective levers, required the operator to stoop and lift each lever independently, thus adding considerably to the labor and slowing upthe operations as a whole; furthermore," the-arrangement required the holding of theielvator lever while pullin up the expanding lever with the result t at-an exceedingly arduous and tiring. expenditure of effort was required, and the output of the machine in .a

given time was unduly limited.

arrangement of hat-block elevator and expanding levers "including a means for so in terconnecting the same. together that the operator, bya-smglemanipulation or movementis enabled to actuate both leversin automatically timed relation andby .anatural It is-theprincipal objectof the present in vention to provide av novel construction and an object to provide means whereby the main levers are automatically held in actuatedior operative positions, so that the operators handsmay be freed for the accomplishment of other work. i i

' The invention has for a still further ob ject to provide a single actuating means for the elevator and expanding levers of a hat blocking machlne, which nevertheless ,pernuts or the usual initial adjustment of said levers for selectively varying at will the height of crown and the head-size of hats undergoing the blocking operations.

Otherobjects of this invention, not at this timemore particularly enumerated, will be clearly understood from the following detailed description of the same.

The invention is clearly illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, inwhichzfi Figure 1 is a side elevation of a hat-blocking machine, the elevator and expanding levers of which are provided with the novel single actuating means made according toand embodying the principles ofthis invention,

the said levers and single actuatin ymeans beingshown in this view in norma initial position Figure 2 is a fragmentarydetail top plan view of said elevator andexpanding levers and the single actuating means therefore; and Figure, 3 is a view similar to that shown inFigure 1, butwith the levers moved to operative positions by said single .actuatmg means.

Similar characters of reference are :em ployed in the above describedeviewsto indicate corresponding parts Referring now to said drawings, the ref-,

erence character 5indi cates a suitable framework iiri the upper portionofwhich issup H ported thetub 6 'withinor over which is lo 7 cated any suitable form of brim-tongscor brim clamping devices 7 which are disposedv around an expansible hat-block 8; Said brim clamping devices 7, and expansible hat-block 8 may lie--constructed and operated in the usual manner familiarto those skilled in the hat machinery art, and to this end the usual vertically reciprocable elevatingfrod' 9 for raising the hat-block 8'to stretch the hatfor the production of a desired height of crown and the usual vertically movable expanding slide 10 for operating expanding mechanism.

of the hat-block is provided. Pivoted to the shaft-13 to the outer end of which is ,lixedl a lever plate 1 1 having a slot 15 concentric to the axis of said rock-shaft, Pivotally're-'- lated to Said rock-shaft 13 is an elevator lever 16 which extends across the face of said lever plate 12L Said elevator lever 16 is adjustably coupled with said lever plate 14 by means of an adjusting screw 17 which is rotatably mounted in a bearing 17 connected with the latterso that its threaded portion engages with an internally threaded block 18 connected "with said elevator lever'andliaving its rearward iort on disposed to ride in the slot 15 of saic lever plate 14. By manipulating the adjusting screw 17 the relation ofthe elevator lever 16 to the lever plate 14 may be varied to produce a greater or less movement of the latter according to the heightto which'it is desired to raise the hat-block 8 to in turn determine the crown height of the hat body being blocked, all in the manner al- I. i'eady'iainiliar to those skilled in the art.

Fixed on said rock-shaft 13 is a lever arm 19 which is interconnected by link means 20 witha pivoted lift lever 2l, the free end of which ispivotally connected with a coupling block 22 secured to said elevating rod 9.

t The means for producingoperativemovements of the expandingslide 10 comprises a second rock-shaft 23 to the outer end of which is fixed alever plate 241 having a slot 25 concentric tothe axis" of said rock-shaft 23. Pivotally related to said rock-shaft 23 is an expanding lever 26 which extends across the face of said lever plate 24. Saidexpanding lever 26 is adjustably coupled with said lever plate 24 by means of an adjusting screw 27 which isrotatably mounted in a bearing 27 connected with the latter so that its threaded portion engages with an internally threaded hlocki28 connected with said expanding lever and having its rearward portion disposed to ride in the slot 25 of said lever plate 2 1: By

inanipulatingthe adjusting screw 27 the rela-' tion of the expanding lever 26 to the lever plateQ l may be varied to' produce a greater or less movement ofthe,latter according to the degree'oit' expansion desired to be produced in the hat-block 8 to in turn determine theheadsize or the hat body being blocked, also all in the'manner already familiar to those skilled iii the art. Fix'edon said rock-shaft is a lever arin 29" which is interconnected by link means 30 with one end of a lift lever-31 fulcru ned intermediate bits ends by alink' connection 32"supported by said elevator lift lever 21, and to the opposite endol? which lift lever 31 is pivotally connected the slide 1Q whichis slidable on said elevating rod 9,

and which actuates the means for expanding and contracting the sections of said but block 8.

The single actuating means for operating said elevator and expanding levers 16 and 26 in properly timed relation, comprises a bear ing stud 33 mounted in a supporting bracket as suitably attached and located in connection with thet'rame-work 5. Mounted on said stud 33 to turn thereon is a bell-crank lever comprising thehandle arm and the crank-arm 36. Connected with said supporting bracket 34 as a stationary part thereof is an oil-set abutment 37 having a stop-face 38 and a second stop-face 39. Said crankarm 36 is provided with stop-nose 40 to engage said stop-face 38 of theabutnient 37 to dispose said bell-crank lever in normal initial position, while the handle arm 35 is provided with a stop-nose 41 to engage said stop-face 89 of said abutment 37 to dispose said bell-erank lever in operated position.

Said crank-arn'i 36 is pivotally interconnected with the free end of said elevator lever 16 by means of an intermediate link 42. Projecting laterally out 'ard from the end portion of said crank-arm 36 is a stud 43, and slidably engaged. with said stud 43 is a draw-link l4 having a slot l5 in which said stud 43 rides. The lower end of said draw-link H is pivotaliy attached to the free end of said expanding lever 26.

In operation, after a hat-body H has been engaged over the hat-block 8 and clamped by the brim clampingdevices 7 and wet down with hot water in the usual manner (the adjustments for height and size having been previously made in connection with the hatblock elevating and expanding mechanism in the manner above referred to) the operator grasps the handle arm 35 and pulls the same forward toturn the crank-arm 36. The initial upward movement of the crank-arm 36 immediately acts throu h the link 42 topull upwardly the elevator ward movement is imparted to the elevating rod 9 and transmitted to the hat-block 8. While such hat-blockelevating movement is occurring, the stud 43 rides up the slot of the draw link 44 untilit engages the upper end of said SlOt Wl1BlG21ftG1 continued turning or swinging movement of the crank-arm 36 is translated into upward drawing pull on said draw link 44 to in turn swing upwardly said expanding lever 26 toproduce the expand ing movement of the hat-block 8. The

handle lever is pulled forwardto the limit of movement as determined by the engagement of the stopnose 41 with the stop face 39 of the abutment 37." 'lieifore this limit of IIIOVOXTlQllt is reached theupper endof the draw link 44willheycarrird across thedead centerot pivotal movement of the crank-arm 36, so that as the handle hirer 35 is brought to stopped position, the elevating and expandlever 16 whereby 1111-" jigeesme" ing levers 16 and 26 will be automatically sustained or upheld in operative :raised positions, whereupon the operatofls hands may the hat hlockfi, the banding lever 1'1=nraybe lowered to operatively engage the rban'ding ring with the hat body, and the latter is. ready to be hjardened byapplication-ofcold water in the well-known:way. After theihat-body has been hardened, the roperator grasps the handle lever35 and swings. the same back to initialposition, thereby releasing the elevating and expanding levers and returning the same to initial lowered positionto in turn lower and contract the hat-block so that the blocked hat ma be removed therefrom, and the next hat body applied thereto for a repetition of the described operations.

From the above description it will be ob vious that the present invention provides a very simple and easilvinanipulated means for actuating the elevating and expanding levers ot' a hat blocking machine through a single power applying mechanism, thereby both reducing the labor required and saving time in carrying on hat-blocking operations.

It will be obvious that some changes may be made in the various arrangements and combinations of the several cooperating mechanisms, as well asin the details of the construction of the same, without'departing from the scope ofthis invention as defined in the appended claims. Hence, I do not limit my invention to the exact arrangements and combinations as described in the foregoing specifications, nor do I confine myselfto the exact details of the construction of the mechanisms and parts thereof shown in. the accompanying drawings, and such description and showing is to be taken as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim I 1. In a hat-blocking machine having hatblock elevating mechanism including an elevator lever and a hat-block expanding mechanism including an expanding lever, a single manipulating means for actuating both said levers, comprising a pivoted bell'cr'ank lever, a connecting link between said bell-crank lever and elevator lever, adraiv-link connected with said expandinglever, and means providing asliding pivotal connection between .said draw-link and said bell-crank lever.

2.. In a. hat-blocking machine having hatvator lever and a hat-block expanding mechanism including anexpanding lever, a single manipulating means for actuating both said levers, comprising a pivoted bell-crank lever, and means to independently connectsaid elevator lever and said expanding lever to and for actuation by said bell-crank lever.

block elevating mechanismincluding an elevatori lever and ahat block expanding mechanism including anexpanding lever, asingle manipulating means torwa ctuating both said levers, comprisingapivoted crank arm, a connecting link between said crank-arm and said elevator level, a draw-link pivotally attached to said expanding lever, means to provide a sliding pivotal connection between said draw-link and'said crane-arm, a hand-- vator lever and a. hat-block expanding mechanism including an expanding lever, a single manipulating means for actuatin both said levers, comprising a pivoted cran i-arm, a connecting link between said cranlcarm and said elevator lever, a draw-link pivotally attached to said expanding lever, said drawlink having a longitudinal slot, said crankarm having a stud engageable in said slot of said draw-link, and a hand-lever tor operating said crank-arm.

5. In a hat-blocking machine having hatblock elevating mechanism including an elevator lever and a hat-block expanding mechanism including an expanding lever, a single manipulating means for actuating both said levers, comprising a pivotal bearing means, a crank-arm mounted on said bearin means, said bearingmeans having a stop 2 iutment engageable, by said crank-arm to determine the normalinitial position of the latter, a hand-lever for operating said crank-arm, said handdever being also engageable with said stop abutment to determine the operated position of said crank-arm, a connect-- ing link between saidcrztnk-arm and said elevator lever, a draw-link connected with said expanding lever, and means to provide a sliding pivotal connection between said draw-link and crank arm.

'6; In a hat-blocking machine having hatblock elevating mechanism including an elevator lever and a hat-block expanding mechanism including an. expanding lever,'a single manipulating means for actuating both arm and said elevator lever, a draw-link connected with said expandin lever,means to provide a. sliding pivotal:connection between said draw link and crank-arm, and means to retain said cran t-arm in operated position to hold said respective elevator and expandp ing levers in actuated positions. 3. In a hat-blocking machine having hat- 7. In a hat-blocking machine having hatmeans to provide a sliding pivotal connection between said draw-link and crank-arm, and means to retain said crank-arm in operated position to-hold said respective elevator and expanding levers in actuated positions, said latter means comprising a stop abutment enga geable by said hand-lever after said drawliuk has crossed the dead center of movement of said crank-arm.

In testimony, that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereunto set my hand this 12th day of November, 1927. I

RUDOLPH G. MULLER. 

